Dylann Roof is representing himself in his murder case

Roof is accused of shooting and killing nine people in a historically African-American church in Charleston, S.C. in 2015. He was indicted on 33 counts including hate crimes. He faces the death penalty, despite some victims' family members preferring that he live.

WATCH | When Roof was initially arrested, family members of victims famously forgave him.

The sharp racial divide

Opinions over Roof's fate are sharply divided. Last spring, the University of South Carolina found 64 percent of white South Carolinians wanted Roof to face the death penalty. Just 31 percent of black residents agreed.